For Safe Travel in Japan

List the below links for the latest information.
◆International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA (English)
http://www.iaea.org/
http://www.iaea.org/newscenter/news/tsunamiupdate01.html (Updates on Fukushima)◆United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation,
UNSCEAR (English)
http://www.unscear.org/unscear/index.html◆World Health Organization, WHO (English, French, Chinese)
http://www.who.int/en/◆Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science & Technology in Japan, MEXT
Monitoring information of environmental radioactivity level (English, Chinese,
Korean)http://radioactivity.mext.go.jp/en/

Smartphone-accessible radioactivity monitoring maps and airborne levels ofradioactivity across Japan (Japanese)
http://radioactivity.mext.go.jp/maps/ja/◆Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare in Japan
Food safety levels, shipment levels, and related information (Japanese)
http://www.mhlw.go.jp/shinsai_jouhou/shokuhin.html (Food)
http://www.mhlw.go.jp/shinsai_jouhou/suidou.html (Tap water)

Published in October 2012, First edition

To People Considering a Trip to Japan
This leaflet was created under the supervision of a Working Group
Investigating the Effects of Radioactivity on Sightseeing, to help ease thefears of people who want to visit Japan but are concerned about radiation
issues.
This leaflet contains simple, easy-to-understand information that people
should know when traveling to Japan, including explanations of radiation
and radioactivity.
We hope this will help travelers understandthe situation on the ground in Japan.

Sapporo(630 km, 391.5 mi.)New Chitose Airport

Hakodate

Hokkaido (Hakodate)

Niigata(185 km, 115 mi.)Tokyo (Asakusa)

Sendai

Kyoto (Ryoanji)

Sendai
AirportFukushima Daiichi
Nuclear Power Plant

Sea of Japan
Hyogo (Himeji-jo Castle)
Komatsu Airport

Okinawa Island

Naha

Kyoto

(1790 km, 1112 mi.)(540 km, 335.5 mi.)Naha Airport

CentrairMt. FujiCentral Japan
International Airport

Tokyo
International
Airport(HanedaAirport)1.61■ Fig. 1-1: Airborne Radioactivity Levels in Major Cities around the World
Dose rate (μSv/h)
0.12

0.110

0.11

Osaka

0.094

0.09

0.076

0.07
0.06

0.062 0.063

0.06

0.055

0.054

0.048

0.05
0.04
0.03 0.029

Kagoshima

1.10

0.090

0.08

Pacific Ocean

0.109

0.099μSv/h (World average dose)

0.10(580 km, 360 mi.)Fig. 1-2

0.035

0.02
0.01

Tokyo

0km

1

100km

200km

(230 km, 143 mi.)Distance from Fukushima
Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant
Shinkansen Line

0.00

Sapporo Sendai Tokyo

Kyoto Fukuoka New London Paris Berlin Hong Beijing Taipei Seoul
York
Kong

(630 km, (95 km, (230 km, (540 km, (1050 km,
391.5 mi.) 59 mi.) 143 mi.) 335.5 mi.) 652 mi.)Non-cosmic background radiation, natural and man-madeMatsuyama
Matsuyama
Airport▲Domestic airline flight, Tokyo to Osaka (Altitude: 5000 m, 16404 ft.)

Fukuoka
Airport(450 km, 279.6 mi.)KansaiInternational
AirportAirborne radiation levels in Japan have historically been low
on average and remain relatively low compared to other major
world cities even after the accident.

Narita International Airport

International airline flight (Altitude: 11000 m, 36089 ft.)

(1050 km, 652.4 mi.)NagoyaOsaka International
Airport (Itami Airport)
Hiroshima
Himeji
AirportFukuokaTokyo(230 km, 143 mi.)Cosmic rays■(840 km, 522 mi.)Nagano■Hiroshima

What are airborne radiation levels (rates)?
There is radiation in the air all around us as we go about ourdaily lives. It comes from cosmic rays and from otherbackground radiation from the ground, stone buildings,
concrete, and other sources. Airborne radiation levels(intensities) are a measure of the amounts of radiation in the air.

(95 km, 59 mi.)Airplane*The distances in parentheses, ( ), are the distances from Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in km and mi.
*Source, Fig. 1-1: Created and compiled from public data from various world organizations, as of 9 July 2012.
Date of measurement for select cities: New York, 31 March 2011; Paris, 5 July 2012; Beijing, 8 July 2012
Fig. 1-2: Data from the Radiation Science Center Webpage2

We Visited Popular Sightseeing Areas in Tokyo and Checked Airborne Radiation Levels in Different Locations
Exposure to radiation in our daily lives

Measurement results:
Airborne radioactivity levels■ Date of measurements: 9 July 2012 (Monday) ■ Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
■ Dosimeter used: RADCOUNTER DC-100 (made in Japan), Type of radiation: γ (gamma)

Two people visited popular sightseeing areas in Tokyo in a day and measured the airborne rates of radioactivity at each location.
The food and drinks that they consumed for the three meals on that day were also tested to measure levels of radioactivity.
(For details, see p. 6.)

8 a.m.

Sushi for breakfast in Tsukiji

For food testing, go to P6

Tsukiji(Street fish market)

Subway(Tokyo Metro)

Airborne radiation level: 0.05 µSv/h

Check out all the seafood!

They took measurements at places along asightseeing course in Tokyo from Tsukiji to Asakusa
then Ueno and finishing in Roppongi, from 8 a.m. to
8 p.m. The total amount of radiation over the entire trip
was 0.75 µSv, working out to an average dose of
0.06 µSv/h, which is lower than the worldwide averageof 0.099 Sv/h (Fig. 1-1, p. 2). Radioactive particles of adose on the order of 0.06 µSv/h would be metabolized
by the internal organs of the human body and excretedout as waste products. They would thus have nochance to build up within the body and cause lasting
harmful effects, even in exposure conditions at thesame dose rates lasting over several years.
Measurements taken of the three meals registered noradioactive particles (amounts were below the test
limits of 3 Bq/kg). (See p. 6 for details on food tests.)

Airborne radiation level: 0.08 µSv/h

This area is always so lively with all thestores lined up selling souvenirs

Bentendo Hall in Shinobazu Pond

Café latte, sandwich, and doughnut

Ueno(Ueno Park)

Subway(Tokyo Metro)

For food testing, go to P6

Starbucks for lunch
Enjoying
shopping

Roppongi

Airborne radiation level: 0.05 µSv/h

For food testing, go to P6

Measured at
the observatory
deck (52nd floor)

3

Radiation◆ Bq (becquerel)…Unit used to express the activity of a radioactive material

Mori Garden and Hills Mori Tower“Tonkatsu” pork cutlet for dinner

SVETLANA KORNYUKH(From Russia, has been in Japan 7 years)
I was in Japan when the earthquake
and tsunami occurred. In theaftermath of the disaster, there waslittle accurate information available.
And many of my friends left Japan.
After a few months, however, they
returned to Japan because they could see there waslittle effect from the nuclear power plant disaster. It
was kind of strange to take measurements whilesightseeing, but it made me feel relieved to see
firsthand just how low the amounts were.

A one-time absorbed dose of 1 sievert (1 Sv) of radiation isenough to cause acute effects such as nausea and othersymptoms. The microsievert, µSv, which is the unit ofmeasure of the airborne rates listed in this pamphlet, is one
millionth of a sievert.
It is thought to be difficult to demonstrate an increase in therisk for cancer due to radiation in internal exposure levels
falling below 0.1 Sv. The reason for this is because the risk
for cancer due to other causes is great, making the risk
from internal radiation only too small to measure accurately.

External and internal exposure to radiation
We conducted tests in order to evaluate the potential for effects
from exposure to radiation using measurements of airborne
radiation levels to check for external exposure (p. 3~p. 4) andtests on food to check for internal exposure (p. 6).
External exposure

Unit: Sv

Internal exposure

Lu Ruoyi(From China, has been in Japan 1 year)(Roppongi Hills)

8 p.m.

Radioactive … Radioactive substance that
substanceemits radioactive particles

What levels are considered unsafe?

The two people who assisted in taking measurements(Tokyo Metro)◆ Sv (sievert)… Unit used to express thedegree of effect of radiationon the human body

Reading at 8 p.m.

Total amount from
8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

(Senso-ji Temple,
Nakamise)

SubwayUnits used to measure radiation exposure doses

Radioactivity … Ability to emit radiation

Cool and refreshing wind chime

Asakusa

How much radiation would a person be
exposed while sightseeing in Tokyo (in a day)?

Most people probably have little experience with radiation.
However, it should be known that we are exposed toradiation all the time in our daily lives. The solar and othercosmic rays that strike the earth are a form of radiation.
There are also low levels of naturally occurring radioactivity
in some of the essential nutrients found in food products.
What this means is that we are absorbing radioactive
particles all the time in the course of our daily lives.

Airborne radiation level: 0.04 µSv/h

I came to Japan sometime after theearthquake struck. Before coming
to Japan, I was really worried that
it wasn’t safe. After actually
arriving, however, I saw that there
was no need for any concern. I
haven’t thought at all about the possibility ofradiation in the food I eat lately, either, but it was stilla relief to see for myself how low the levels are.

Unit: Bq

ThroughbreathingThrougheating/drinking

External exposure to radioactive
particles

Internal exposure to radioactive
particles taken into the body

4

In Japan, only those Products that have Passed Strict Testing Standards are Shipped into the Marketplace
Restrictions on acceptable levels of radioactive substance in specific food products
The restrictions on the amount of radioactive cesium allowed (listed in Note 1 on p. 6) that have been employedin Japan since April 2012 are extremely strict compared to other countries.

 Radiation level limits for major products as defined by select countries (Fig. 2)
Japan

Product

U.S.A（Bq/kg）

EU

China

South Korea

Water

10

200

−

370

Milk

50

200

330

370

Meat and meat products

100

500

800

370

Fish and fish products

100

500

800

370

Vegetables

100

500

210

370

Baby food

50

−

−

−

1200

Data: Public data released by various governments throughout the world (current as of July 2012)*Note that the EU uses the same limits for imported products from Japan as Japan uses.

Products

Products are tested with a high-precision detector such as a germanium detector in photo ❷ on p. 6 andshipped into the marketplace only when the results fall below permissible limits for cesium.

Test method

Tested at least once
per week by local
government entities

Milk

Raw, unprocessed
milk direct fromdairy producers
tested at
refrigerated storage
warehouses

Meat and meatproducts

Fish and fish
products

For beef, tests
conducted per headof cattle or per
cattle shed/yard by
local government
entities

Tested at least once
per week by local
government entities

 Dates for measurements:
9 July 2012 (Monday) to 10 July 2012 (Tuesday) Detector used:
Germanium detector Canberra GC2020 (made in France)

The foods and beverages consumed by the two participants in the one-day model sightseeing course inTokyo were tested to check radioactivity levels present. It is worth noting that food and drink ingredients
produced in Japan are deemed safe by Starbucks Coffee Japan, for use.
 Food tested:Sushi (fish, rice), Sandwich (bread,cheese, and vegetables), Café latte (milk,
water, and coffee), Tonkatsu set meal(pork, rice) Target substances:
Three main nuclei (Note 1)
Iodine-131 (I-137), cesium-134 (Ce-134),and cesium-137 (Ce-137)
 Lower test limit:
3 Bq/kg (lower detectable limit)

Food product and water testing system

Water

Measurement results:
Food radioactivity levels

Vegetables

1

2

5

Tests were conductedby local government
entities on products
grown outdoors first inorder of priority early inthe shipment schedule

3

4❶The same food and drink products consumed during thesightseeing trip were taken to the testing facility. (For details,
see p. 3.)❷They are tested for radioactivity using the germanium detector.
❸The stepwise analysis data is sent to the computer for analysis.
❹Tests were conducted down to 3 Bq, which is a stricter standard
than the strictest limit level of 10 Bq for food and beverages.
❺The analysis results are printed out.

Results

Shipment
restricted

Shipment
restricted

Shipment
restricted

Shipment
restricted

Shipment
restricted

Information release on the website* For example, starting from April 2012, around twenty to thirty different food products from supermarkets in Tokyo aretested each week. Around four hundred different product samples have been tested in total through July 2012. Not asingle product out of those four hundred has been found so far with levels exceeding the permissible limits for cesium.

Only those products that have passed strict standards (Fig. 2) are shipped into the marketplace.
Exceeds permissible limits for cesium

5(Note 1)
Due to the incident at Fukushima
Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, radioactive
isotopes such as I-131, Ce-134, andCe-137 were released into the air. The
main isotopes remaining that could
have affects on people in the area are
Ce-134 and Ce-137. Cesium is thus
being used as the standard upon which
acceptable levels of radioactivity are set
for tests on food products.

Measurement results
Product nameBreakfast

Sushi (Fish, rice)
Sandwich (Bread, cheese, and vegetables)

Lunch

Doughnut

Test result Lower test limit
None detected
None detected

３Bq/kgCafé latte (Milk, water, and coffee) None detected
SupperTonkatsu set meal (Pork, rice) None detected

Falls below permissible limits for cesium

6Come to Japan Anytime of the Year!

春

Spring in Japan coincides with the blossoming of theRelax and enjoy
cherry blossoms

cherry blossoms. There have been no reports of highlevels of radioactivity being detected in any cherry
blossom petals themselves.
The data for radiation levels released by the Forest
Agency in Japan in December 2011 would yield an

秋

There are two potential sources for radioactive

Feel the changing colors
of autumn leaves

contamination in fallen leaves, radioactive particles
adhering to the surface of the leaves themselves or being
absorbed through the tree roots and then passed into theleaves. Even small amounts of radiation on a single leaf
can be compounded when leaves are all piled together.

exposure rate of about 0.000192 µSv/h, supposing thata person inhaled the pollen with the greatest amounts ofHowever, the amounts of radioactive particles on or in thecesium under conditions of record-high levels of pollen

airborne radiation levels are low, the levels on or in fallen

in the air. Thus the amount of radioactive particles

leaves should also be low, negating the need for concern.

inhaled or ingested together with pollen is minimal.

There have been no reports of ill effects on the health inMany visitors to Japan may wonder why so manyany of the sightseeing spots throughout Japan due topeople wear masks in early spring. People wear masks

radiation so far, meaning that people can walk on fallen

to protect themselves against pollen.

leaves or touch them directly without suffering any

fallen leaves reflect in the airborne radiation levels. If the

problems due to radiation exposure.

夏

Cool off while enjoying
swimming andmarine sports

Japan has proscribed indicator levels for water quality withregard to radioactive materials for sea bathing (cesium: 50
Bq/R). The 50 Bq/R limit is, as shown in Fig. 2 on the previous
page, the same as the restricted value for milk in Japan. Thispermissible limits for cesium takes into account the possibility
for exposure from accidentally swallowing seawater whileswimming in the sea. It can be seen that this is rather a strict
standard even compared to acceptable radioactivity levels fordrinking water in other countries.
According to data for beaches and areas in Ibaraki (compiledin June 2012), one of the prefectures that neighbors
Fukushima, no radioactive substances were detected in thewater at any of the sea bathing beach areas in Ibaraki.
Airborne radiation levels in beach areas have been measured
to be about the same as or lower than levels in major cities.

冬

If there were to be radioactive particles present in rain or

Hit the slopes and enjoy
skiing and snowboardingsnow, the airborne rate of radioactivity would go up
because of the contaminated rain or snow. However, atpresent, no such data indicating an increase in the rate
has been obtained. As there are no radioactive particles,
there would be no ill effects even if the rain or snow shouldmake direct contact with skin. For example, by slippingand falling on the ski slopes, becoming inundated withsnow, or touching snow with your bare hands to makesnowballs. The current airborne levels of radioactivity
detected at ski resorts in the cities of Sapporo (Hokkaido)
and Nagano (Nagano), popular skiing locales that hosted
the past two Winter Olympics held in Japan, are 0.029µSv/h and 0.039 µSv/h, respectively, at present, which arewithin normal levels. (As of 9 July 2012)

7*The world average is 0.099 µSv. (p. 2)

8

Q&A about Radiation and Radioactivity
Q 1 Would there be any possible effects from travel by airplane or train?
A

No. Check out the graph (Fig. 1-2) on p. 2. People are exposed to radiation whenever they travel by airplane. The
great majority of this radiation comes from cosmic rays from outside of earth’s atmosphere with very little from theground, buildings, or the nuclear power plant accident. People can also be exposed to airborne radiation along thepath of travel when moving from place to place by car, bus, or other mode of transportation. The levels of airborne
radiation in Japan currently are low enough not to cause any ill effects on health for people traveling throughtout
Japan for sightseeing.

Q2 Are there any radioactive particles present in falling rain?
A

No. Considering that most of the radioactive particles released into the air after the accident have already been
deposited on the ground and on other surfaces, there is no need for concern about radioactivity in rain. Even if aperson should get wet from rain containing radioactive particles, no radioactive particles that can be absorbed
through the skin (such as tritium) have been detected from this accident, and there is thus no chance forcontamination from rain to cause effects on the human body.

Q3 Are there any radioactive particles adhering to products sold at souvenir and other shops in Japan?
A
No. Voluntary testing is being conducted on not only food products but also on other products such as containers
and industrial products in regions where there may be radioactive particles present in the environment. There has
been no radioactivity detected in any food products or traditional crafts from these regions and also none in thewrapping paper or boxes used in packaging for souvenirs and other purchases.

radioactivity from radioactive particles ingested, inhaled, or absorbed into the
Q7 Willbody continue to build up over time?
A

No. Any cesium, the radioactive substance upon which standards for radiation limits are set, that is absorbed into
the body is metabolized and excreted as waste products. There is thus no chance for any radioactive substances
to build up in the body over time.

Q8 Are the effects from radiation greater on children than on adults?
A

No. Children up to the age of fifteen are said to be two or three times more sensitive to the effects of radiation thanadults. However, there is no need for concern regarding the health of children as there are currently no sightseeing
places in Japan where anyone would possibly be exposed to the levels of airborne radioactivity that would haveadverse effects on human health or touch foods that exceed permissible limits for cesium. It is therefore deemedsafe for adults and children alike to be in Japan and consume food and drink products without worry about thebuildup of radiation within the body. In addition, as described in Q7, as radioactive substances absorbed do notcontinue to build up over time, there is no need for concern over effects on the body from long-term internal
exposure to radiation.

As a researcher specializing in nuclear power and as a motherof two small children
I sometimes have the opportunity to speak to people who are concerned about theeffects of radiation on the human body and environment from the viewpoint of amother with children. By meeting directly with people and talking to them about
radiation, I am often able to help ease their worries about radioactivity and its
potential effects. It is my hope that this pamphlet will have a similar effect incalming the fears of concerned residents and travelers in Japan.
Japan is a country blessed with rich, abundant natural beauty and a wide variety
of facets from the traditional to the modern. I would like to extend a warm
welcome to anyone interested in visiting our country.

Q4 Is it considered safe to enjoy hot springs in Japan now?
A

Yes. Local government agencies and tourist boards have been publishing the results of independentmeasurements of radioactivity levels in sightseeing locations with hot springs. No problem levels have been
detected thus far.
There are hot springs in Japan that contain natural radium and other substances that have no connection to theaccident. Most hot springs have been used to promote good health since long ago as they each contain a variety
of substances that are thought to be good for the body. Radioactive hot springs are just one of these types of hot
spring that are popular in Japan.

there any differences in the effect on the human body of radiation from natural
Q5 Aresources compared to that from particles emitted from the nuclear power plant accident?
A
No. There is no difference in the effects on the body from radiation, whether from naturally occurring sources orfrom sources from isotopes created within a nuclear power plant (manmade sources of radiation).

Q
A

Have there been any adverse effects on health resulting from the nuclear power plant
6 accident reported so far?

9

No. Tests on radioactivity levels in areas around the nuclear power plant and possible adverse effects on the bodyare being conducted on a continual basis. Thus far, no effects attributable to radiation from the accident have been
noted. Dr. Wolfgang Weiss, chair of the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation(UNSCEAR), stated at a press conference on January 31, 2012, in regards to the current testing that “Up to now
there were no acute immediate effects seen” due to the accident at the nuclear power plant in Japan.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/31/us-japan-fukushima-health-idUSTRE80U1AS20120131 (from Reuters)

Kyoko Oba, Associate Professor, Global Nuclear Human Resource Development
for Safety, Security and Safeguard, Tokyo Institute of Technology

 Edited/Supervised by Working Group Investigating the Effects of Radioactivity on Sightseeing
Takeshi Iimoto
Associate Professor, Division for Environment, Health and Safety, The University of Tokyo
Kyoko Oba
Associate Professor, Global Nuclear Human Resource Development for Safety, Security and Safeguard, Tokyo Institute of Technology
Yoshiya Shimada
Program Leader, Research Program Investigating the Effects of Radiation Exposure during theDevelopmental Period in Children, National Institute of Radiological Sciences (NIRS)
Hiromi Nakamura
Managing Director, Japan Travel Writer’s Organization; science journalist; and aviation critic Published by Japan Tourism Agency
10